Robert Brightmore has received impressive critical and public acclaim. He made his debut at the Wigmore Hall in 1975 and has since performed and broadcast in many parts of the world. Concert tours throughout Europe, Scandinavia, Brazil, Australia, the Far East, USA & Canada, together with performances in London's major concert halls and appearances with leading orchestras, such as the 'Philharmonia' and the 'Bournemouth Sinfonietta', have earned him an international reputation. His many appearances in Great Britain have included recordings for BBC Television and BBC Radio. Along with performing commitments Robert Brightmore is professor of guitar at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, London, where in 2003 he was made a Fellow for distinguished services to music and the school.
'A guitarist whose career we shall follow with admiration' Soundboard, U.S.A. Première performances of works by some of today's foremost writers have been essential to his philosophy, while he is equally active in transcribing music from more traditional sources, thus further developing the guitar's repertoire. First performances have included works by Leo Brouwer, Oliver Hunt, Smith Brindle, Stepán Rak, Jaime Zenamon and Carlo Domeniconi. In particular the première and first recording of ‘The Barber of Baghdad’ by Oliver Hunt, written for Robert Brightmore and inspired by stories from ‘The Arabian Nights’, Zenamon’s ‘Iguaçu’, a concerto strongly influenced by the composer's Brazilian background, and ‘Demian’, a suite inspired by the book by Herman Hesse, broadcast by R.N.E. from Madrid's Ateneo Theatre.
Robert Brightmore has made several recordings following his highly acclaimed debut LP for 'Vista Records'; 'Classical Music' commented, 'Brightmore performs exquisitely. He brings to the music scrupulous interpretative clarity and a vivid identification with all he plays'. Of his LP, 'Recital' ('Chorus Records'), 'Soundboard' in the USA wrote, '... abounds in beautiful things played with great technical command and tons of feeling'.
Following a recital at the Wigmore Hall in April 1990 'Classical Guitar' commented: 'a compelling atmosphere... He developed this Turkish orientated piece with an almost trance inducing intricacy, so much so that even the rapid passages gave rise to a hypnotically serene state.'
